UNKNOWN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13845, 3 September 1908, Page 6

UNKNOWN.

LAUNCH OP TEE S.S. MAKUEA, I [feom: OCX. own COSB2SrQ*3&KST.j • - , - I^xi»s,/ :: Jnlyi2f:'-' ■ '• .';'. Sib Jakes ast> Lady Mojls havo just axv '_..'.' rived in London from.' : Canada, where 'Bibs, ; James has'been in. connection with the ie-> newal. of the Canadian mail contra*.-:. ! ; It is too early -yet to say whether he IsaM .-. . another shipbuHdin£ programme in vvifwJ ■ but .mother addition has reeentiv bibm made to the Sect- of the Union Steam S!up ( ; ;, Company, llessre. A. Stephen and Sons, ' of Linthoase, having launched th& large twin screw .steamer' Makura, which they - . have built for the service between 3»ew Zealand, Awtra^"'ai^;Vafaconver-.., i The dimensions of the*' vessel ' ai*: ; Length TOft, breadth 58ft, depth 35& -, .. While principally'' designed for passengers, ;.;■''; ana wul carry, a considerable amount of ' '§! cargo, the holds being worked by bydrauliiv "■'" ' hoists. .-■' '■..'. -"'-^'-:■■/:'■:': '■':;:■'%■■'-.f-r .■'■•:..,'.;■[':.;■ • The second-class accommodation is afi, .. " with tha dining-salooTi ; : in 'the.-''poop, and' \.,~ the music and- smoking rooms above, Trfr'ik .', '■ ■ the third-class is forward, with ■ siniia* f; ; saloons and v£har nxras. ; AH. the public . zooms are panelled it; hardwood, and hand-. --: sanely . upholstered.: "['he engines, which •. -'-i have also 'b&Eaitjcoitstriairfed "by Messrs. -, Stephen, are iwin-scavw of the'loOT-crank?, ■ ■ T ? type.,:, The electric engines are 'fitted intf triplicate to ».ope with the unusuaUy com-* -plete system of lighting and heating, aud■to reduce to a minimum any chance' of•'at: breakdown: The vessel, which has been ■ built to '.'Uritish: corporation rules, has been constructed under the supervision of Mr,' J. B. Campbell,. ■ the .Union. Company*s' superintendents, with the assistance of Cap* tain Livingstone,''.Mr.'Wallace, and others,- * ■ She has been chartered to take paissengaptf -. ; : ' out to Melbourne, and is expected to sail ■ towards the end,of September with a fall. - : complement. The naming ceremonv w?.a~i - ''■performed, .by^Mr«- ; J. M. Ritchie, wife «l Mr.... J. M. Ritchie, director of the Union ;. "':; Steam Ship Company of New Zealand. ■, .' ' Bemarking that ""the Pacific is the weal" , .': link in the projected All Red roote, a and that "this movement ,is consequently of ■■■"" , ,'-" , some significance," the Daily .Te&gtapli continues:—"The Union Steam Ship Com*. - pony "of New ; Zealand has- already ,: ,: «d a.fine passenger business on it, and* ■■' ■- there is a growing ..feeling.-- that if there ia ' to be _ a subsidy '■ Its • vessels ought - to ■ get it Ite boats have always been above le *.v.:r-v , age-in:.-.speed' and in" excellence.' of aceoramo-., dation. and it has kept- improving on then* '.. ', as traffic increased." *■